A few years ago, a friend visited the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the village of Margraten, about six miles from Maastricht. There lie buried 8,301 American soldiers killed in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5. Sgt. Bill Dukeman, 101st Airborne Division, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, Company C (of "Band of Brothers fame) is buried there. He was killed in the battle of "The Crossroads" in northern Holland.
The Dutch hold an annual memorial concert every September at the above cemetery to remember and honor the Americans who died to free them in Operation Market Garden and subsequent efforts to eject the German army from Holland. Sgt. Dukeman, like many other fallen GIs, was "adopted" by a Dutch family. Dukeman's family in the States was contacted and hosted in Holland, and his grave site decorated each year by his Dutch "family." They keep his portrait in their home, displayed in a place of honor. Fathers pass this obligation down to their sons in Holland. This version of the original "taps" music is played by a 13 year old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema. The conductor of the orchestra is Andre Rieu from Holland .
Many of you may never have heard taps played in its entirety . The original version of Taps was called Last Post, and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801. It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in this clip, so in 1862 it was shortened to 24 notes and re-named Taps. Melissa Venema is playing it on a trumpet whereby the original was played on a bugle.
Gary that was fantastic ,I enjoyed that very much.
Lance C
Friar Park said
01:44 PM Apr 29, 2014
Thanks Gary Very impressive
Friar
Yuglamron said
02:47 PM Apr 29, 2014
It always amazes me how much talent there is around the world. Especially the young ones who come out and astound us.
I think we (Our generation ) are put off by the minority . She is in a very, very special minority we are blessed with.
Thanks Gary a special piece.
Vic41 said
06:17 PM Apr 29, 2014
Thanks for sharing that Gary, very moving.
I had a cassette once called "Golden Trumpets" and that was one of the pieces on it, absolutely beautiful....
Bryan said
09:57 PM Apr 29, 2014
I've always loved trumpet solos and Il Silencio is one of my favourites. Thanks Gary
GaryKelly said
08:19 AM Apr 30, 2014
Glad all y'all enjoyed it. The link and message was sent by my mate Art in North Carolina who's 88. He was amused by my reference to 'tap' as in our version of faucet, so he decided to edumacate me about taps. He was an 18 y/o airman in the USAF stationed in London during WWII, flying in a B27 (I think) on bombing raids over Berlin.
Vic41 said
01:40 PM Apr 30, 2014
When I first saw your title Gary I thought you were talking about water taps until I opened the post!
They were brave blokes those crew in the bombers lucky if they survived.
Many Aussie crew members as well although they were shows as British airmen.
ibbo said
01:51 PM Apr 30, 2014
Olley46 wrote:
Gary that was fantastic ,I enjoyed that very much.
Lance C
Gary,bloody marvelous.Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Subject: Taps in Holland.
A few years ago, a friend visited the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the village of Margraten, about six miles from Maastricht. There lie buried 8,301 American soldiers killed in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5. Sgt. Bill Dukeman, 101st Airborne Division, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, Company C (of "Band of Brothers fame) is buried there. He was killed in the battle of "The Crossroads" in northern Holland.
The Dutch hold an annual memorial concert every September at the above cemetery to remember and honor the Americans who died to free them in Operation Market Garden and subsequent efforts to eject the German army from Holland. Sgt. Dukeman, like many other fallen GIs, was "adopted" by a Dutch family. Dukeman's family in the States was contacted and hosted in Holland, and his grave site decorated each year by his Dutch "family." They keep his portrait in their home, displayed in a place of honor. Fathers pass this obligation down to their sons in Holland. This version of the original "taps" music is played by a 13 year old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema. The conductor of the orchestra is Andre Rieu from Holland .
Many of you may never have heard taps played in its entirety . The original version of Taps was called Last Post, and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801. It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in this clip, so in 1862 it was shortened to 24 notes and re-named Taps.
Melissa Venema is playing it on a trumpet whereby the original was played on a bugle.
Watch at this site, and go full screen.
http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm
Gary that was fantastic ,I enjoyed that very much.
Lance C
It always amazes me how much talent there is around the world. Especially the young ones who come out and astound us.
I think we (Our generation ) are put off by the minority . She is in a very, very special minority we are blessed with.
Thanks Gary a special piece.
Thanks for sharing that Gary, very moving.
I had a cassette once called "Golden Trumpets" and that was one of the pieces on it, absolutely beautiful....
When I first saw your title Gary I thought you were talking about water taps until I opened the post!
They were brave blokes those crew in the bombers lucky if they survived.
Many Aussie crew members as well although they were shows as British airmen.
Gary,bloody marvelous.Thank you for sharing it with us all.